NSSS4.3

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4.3 Mineral Resources

Vocabulary

Gemstone: A hard, colorful mineral that has a brilliant or glassy luster.
Ore: A rock that contains metal or economically useful mineral is called an ore.
Smelting: The process in which ore is melted to separate the useful metals from other elements in the ore.
Alloy: A solid mixture of two or more metals.

Outline

Introduction

  • Thousands of years ago there lived people named the Hopewell people.
    • They lived in such an area that they could build many things.
      • By the benefit of living in a good area, the Hopewell people made marvelous objects.

The Uses of Minerals

  • Minerals are the sources for metals, gemstones and other materials used to make a bunch of products.
    • Gemstones
      • Gemstones, such as rubies, sapphires, and emeralds, have captured many people's imagination for decades
      • Gemstones are valued for their luster, color, durability, and the fact that they are rare
      • Cut gemstones which are called gems are mainly used in jewelry and decorations, but are also used for mechanical parts and grinding and polishing
    • Metals
      • Minerals are sources for some metals such as aluminum, iron, copper and silver
      • Metal tools and machinery all began as minerals within the Earth's crust
    • Other Useful Materials
      • People use many materials made from minerals
        • Talc ( talcum powder )
        • Calcite crystals ( optical instruments )
        • Quartz ( glass, electronic equipments and watches )
        • Kaolin ( pottery )
        • Gypsum ( wallboard, cement,and stucco )
        • Corundum ( cleaning and polishing products )

Ores

  • Ores are rocks which contain metals and are also of use for the economy
  • Metals rarely occur in a pure form
    • Copper comes from a mineral called "chalcopyrite"

Prospecting

  • Prospectors are people who search for ores
  • Geologist search for ores by:
    • Observing what type of rocks are on the surface
    • Examining plants on the surface
    • Test water from streams to find any presence of certain chemicals
    • Employing shock waves in order to map the location, size, and shape of an ore deposit

Mining

  • Geologist use three types of mines to find ore deposits
    • Strip mines
      • Earth-moving equipment scrapes away soil to reveal ore deposits
      • Strip mining scars the land
      • To reduce damage, mine operators grade the surface and replace soil
    • Open-pit mines
      • Open-pit mines are used to find ore deposits that start out at the surface and then extend downward for hundreds of meters.
    • Shaft mines
      • When ore deposits occur in veins, miners use shaft mines
      • Shaft mines have a network of tunnels following ore veins

Smelting

  • After the ore has been found, it has to be smelted
    • Smelting is when ore has been melted and all the useful metals have been separated
      • In the smelting process, there are many things you have to do in order to get the useful metals seperated from the other things.
        • First, smelting involves mixing ore and other things and then heating it to a very high temperature.
        • Because of the intense heat inside the blast furnace, the ore melts.
        • After the ore has melted the metal inside sinks to the bottom and is then poured into carts.
        • The remaining impurities mix with limestone to form slag.
  • The leftover metal is used as alloys for other metals.
    • An alloy is a solid mixture of two or more metals.
      • Take steel as an example.
        • It is an alloy of iron.
          • To make strong steel you add the metals manganese and a very little amount of carbon.
          • To make stainless steel you add the metals chromium and nickel.